Described in numerous news articles as the Spanish Alps, Las Villas, as they were collectively known, was a lively enclave of Spanish, Puerto Rican and other Hispanic summer resorts in Plattekill, NY, and the Catskill Mountains.
Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County (Arcadia Publishing, 2016) by Ishmael Martinez is the first comprehensive historical retrospective on Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County.
Starting in the 1920s and for the next 60 years, the area became the most popular vacation destination for Latinos in the Northeast, with an emphasis on music, food, language and customs.
Ishmael “Ish” Martinez is an historian specializing in the Hispanic resorts of the Hudson Valley. He was born in the Bronx, is of Puerto Rican heritage, and grew up in Plattekill, NY, where his parents owned a villa called Sunny Acres Hotel.
He grew up living and working in the villa industry and has an in-depth knowledge of the history of the villas, and their day-to-day activities. Martinez has been interviewed on radio and TV, and given numerous presentations on the subject of Las Villas.
For his book, Martinez obtained many never before published photographs from the Plattekill Historical Society, his own family’s collection and many private and public sources.
The author of the book’s foreword is Tito Puente Jr., son of Tito Puente, who was a well-known Latin mambo musician and celebrity of his day.
Upcoming Author Event
The Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, NY, will host a special presentation by Ish Martinez on Sunday, June 14 from 2 to 3:30 pm. The presentation will be in person at the Museum and will also be live streamed via Zoom. For tickets visit this website.
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